Hello!
I am very excited to rediscover the coast at Boat Camp this weekend. I teach Kindergarten at the Dr. John C Page School in West Newbury. I grew up in the summers on Plum Island and have the best memories of boating, swimming, and never wearing shoes! I currently live in Newburyport and still spend time at the beach each summer. I have two curious children who love to explore as much as I do. Kindergarteners have such curious minds as well. It will be fun to bring what we learn back to the classroom!
Tonight was fun. I really enjoyed visiting the Cushing House Museum.Walking through the house really brought me back in time. Growing up in Newburyport and knowing some of its history, I felt like I was back in time. A time when Newbury and Newburyport was all taking shape. It was very important for a person to really have a talent in some trade so they could make a living. Whether it be in agriculure (farming), shipbuilding, wood working (construction) or any other business. It makes makes me wonder where our world is going because people have become very lazy over the past few decades, especially our children!
I think the one area that sticks out in my mind about the history lesson and the Cushing House was how important the merrimac river was in John Winthrop's time in the 1700's. The river was what made this area as successful as it was. It went beyond Newburyport to Lawrence and Lowell. Industry really came alive due to the river. This makes me think about the ocean literacy principle # 6 The ocean and humans are inexricably linked. Every thing we do as human beings can bring about a change in the ocean. We discussed pollution tonight, and how the disks that were dumped are now traveling to Europe. I can't image the pollution that has been dumped into the merrimac since the settlers began using it as a business. Bringing this message of pollution to my Kindergarten class is important. I think teaching our children to be responsible for how they behave as they become adults, is the message I want to send to my Kindergarteners. Children need to be taught manners and know they are responsible for how they behave and their belongings. It is important that we teach respect for all living systems and the ocean is one of them.
I think a great way to bring this message to my class would be to bring them to Plum Island. Plum Island to me is a very special place. I have watch the island change so much since my childhood. I am the third generation to grow up in my families house. Plum Island is my place-based education. I could show my class the changes in the beach with respect to erosion and how much trash is brought up onto the beach from other places with each turning tide. I would talk to them about how important it is for everyone to help take care of the beaches and the earth in general. I would ask my children what they could do to contribute to keeping our oceans and beaches clean.
Lying on the beach listening to the soft waves build upon the sand as the sun warms my body. Nothing beats that! It was a great day spent at Sandy Point, which is the southern tip of the barrior Island known as Plum Island. I have never been on the path that took us through the dunes before today. The beautiful part that amazes me about plum Island are the barrier Island features. It goes from trees/forest to bush and shrubs to grass, then to sand and beach and then into the water. I often think about how much this barrier island does protect the mainland of Newburyport. We have some very intense storms that can really rearrange our landscape. What would Newbury and Newburyport look like if it wasn't protected as much?
I also enjoyed seeing where all the houses that inhabited the Bluffs. I have always loved the house on the edge of the river. It reminded me of my house when I was little. We had a great wrap around porch that I would always sit on for hours and just watch. I may have to sneak back out there to sit on the porch of the Bluffs house maybe just once.
The vegeatation on the island, the beach roses are one of my favorites. I have them in red and white. They are very hardy and transplant extremly well. I would love try to make some of the plum jam that Garry was telling us he made. I'm not sure about the sumac drink, I think I will pass. I hope the animal track making was succussful! That looks fun. I am not a big fan of snakes, I hope I don't run into them too often.
I think for me focusing on the concept of an island is good for Kindergarteners. I would start a lesson with the concept of what an island is and build upon it with the features of an island. I would explore the island gently with the children. Letting them play with the sand as we did. Explore the tide pools and the different ocean life that lives within it. Children are facinated with shells, sticks, rocks, and sand. Using those tools to build a sense of place is a great beginning and it is so open ended that chidren can take it to what ever lever they are developmentally ready for.
I think tomorrow is going to be another beautiful day... See you then.
April 10, 2011
The Spencer -Peirce- Little Farm is such a slice of New England history. John Spencer, beginning it all in 1635 when he was granted the 400 acreas to begin a life in this foreign land. Building a successful cattle farm, he also had some land near the landing site in the Parker River.Parker River Water shedDaniel Peirce was the next to own the farm and he was able to make a real go of it . He was involved in blacksmithing, farming and cattle raising as well. Peirce was the one who build the stone house maybe for a status symbol because in England the wealthy had stone houses. Nathaniel Tracy came in next as owner from 1781 to 96. He was the wealthiest merchant in Newburyport. He had a fleet of privateer vessels during the revolution, but suffered bad financial hardships because of it. After his financial collapse he was allowed to stay at the farm until his death. His widow sold the farm to Offin Boardman who worked for Tracy at one time on his ships. Offin was a wildman who ended up in jail in England but escaped twice. He had a wharf on the Newburyport Harbor and he made good money from it. Boardman was the person who added the "wooden wing "to the house. He lost everything in the fire of 1811 and died in 1812. He did make a map of the property which helped the preservationists know exactly what he ate when they dug up the privy. John Pettingell was the next owner but he used it mostly as a summer place. It was leased to Edward Little in 1851. In 1861 he was able to buy the farm outright because he was a smart business man. He also invested in the first banks in Newburyport. His had a very successful dairy farm and he also imported and trained draft horses. The farm stayed in the Little family until 1986 when Amelia Little died . It was deeded to Historic New England and is now the Museum.
Each one of these owners had significant impact in the area. Bringing new settlers to Newbury with the cattle farms, investing in businesses such as banks and boat building along the wharf in town. They also gave jobs to family members and friends. In the cemetery tour everyone seemed to be related somehow. I kept seeing the names Boardman, Pettingell, Currier, Moultan, Lunt, Cushing, Pike, Caldwell. Some of the names I just mentioned had something to do with the Ocean National Bank, William Cushing- president, P.H.Lunt - cashier, directors - William Cushing , Charles Lunt, and John Pike. Moultan was a silversmith, he was located on Merrimac Street along the river. Caldwell's Drug store and Caldwell's rum also located along the river near Cashman's park. All of these businesses depended on the river to bring them their goods. . People along the wharf had to eat so restaurants and bakeries were established. One store we can still see today is Fowels at 11 State Street, established in 1871.
So we have established the Port, but what happened when a boat needed help out in the rough Merrimac River. This is the story of the Dory and Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury, up on the Merrimac. Simeon Lowell invented the flat bottom Dory so it could cut through the waves but it also acted like a surf board and could be ridden to shore.The U.S. Life Saving Service which became the Coast Guard used his boats to rescue people. His company with help from a grandson Hiram in the 19th century made an even better model that the Glousester Schooner fleets used the dory to hand feed their lines for a better catch. Another family member Tinky (Fred) was able to in 1911 produce 2,029 boats in one year. The boats were used in the war to transport food, wounded, and anything else from the shore to a ship. My great uncle, Ned Hines, had a fleet of dories at his store, Tuna Point Lunch ,located at the point on Plum Island in the 1930's. He used them for fishing. Dories were used as rowing boats along the river as well. They worked best when they were loaded to the gills so they would sink down into the water.
The social studies lesson that I would use in my class would be how it all comes together. I would have the children build a river. They could make boats and travel back and forth across the river, and up and down the river as well. The children could have businesses where they bring their goods to people along the river. Let them play and understand how it all comes together so they can develop a "Sense of Place".
Thank you I had a great weekend. I will see you on the 29th.
Hello!
I am very excited to rediscover the coast at Boat Camp this weekend. I teach Kindergarten at the Dr. John C Page School in West Newbury. I grew up in the summers on Plum Island and have the best memories of boating, swimming, and never wearing shoes! I currently live in Newburyport and still spend time at the beach each summer. I have two curious children who love to explore as much as I do. Kindergarteners have such curious minds as well. It will be fun to bring what we learn back to the classroom!
April 8, 2011
Tonight was fun. I really enjoyed visiting the Cushing House Museum.Walking through the house really brought me back in time. Growing up in Newburyport and knowing some of its history, I felt like I was back in time. A time when Newbury and Newburyport was all taking shape. It was very important for a person to really have a talent in some trade so they could make a living. Whether it be in agriculure (farming), shipbuilding, wood working (construction) or any other business. It makes makes me wonder where our world is going because people have become very lazy over the past few decades, especially our children!
I think the one area that sticks out in my mind about the history lesson and the Cushing House was how important the merrimac river was in John Winthrop's time in the 1700's. The river was what made this area as successful as it was. It went beyond Newburyport to Lawrence and Lowell. Industry really came alive due to the river. This makes me think about the ocean literacy principle # 6 The ocean and humans are inexricably linked. Every thing we do as human beings can bring about a change in the ocean. We discussed pollution tonight, and how the disks that were dumped are now traveling to Europe. I can't image the pollution that has been dumped into the merrimac since the settlers began using it as a business. Bringing this message of pollution to my Kindergarten class is important. I think teaching our children to be responsible for how they behave as they become adults, is the message I want to send to my Kindergarteners. Children need to be taught manners and know they are responsible for how they behave and their belongings. It is important that we teach respect for all living systems and the ocean is one of them.
I think a great way to bring this message to my class would be to bring them to Plum Island. Plum Island to me is a very special place. I have watch the island change so much since my childhood. I am the third generation to grow up in my families house. Plum Island is my place-based education. I could show my class the changes in the beach with respect to erosion and how much trash is brought up onto the beach from other places with each turning tide. I would talk to them about how important it is for everyone to help take care of the beaches and the earth in general. I would ask my children what they could do to contribute to keeping our oceans and beaches clean.
April 9, 2011
Lying on the beach listening to the soft waves build upon the sand as the sun warms my body. Nothing beats that! It was a great day spent at Sandy Point, which is the southern tip of the barrior Island known as Plum Island. I have never been on the path that took us through the dunes before today. The beautiful part that amazes me about plum Island are the barrier Island features. It goes from trees/forest to bush and shrubs to grass, then to sand and beach and then into the water. I often think about how much this barrier island does protect the mainland of Newburyport. We have some very intense storms that can really rearrange our landscape. What would Newbury and Newburyport look like if it wasn't protected as much?
I also enjoyed seeing where all the houses that inhabited the Bluffs. I have always loved the house on the edge of the river. It reminded me of my house when I was little. We had a great wrap around porch that I would always sit on for hours and just watch. I may have to sneak back out there to sit on the porch of the Bluffs house maybe just once.
The vegeatation on the island, the beach roses are one of my favorites. I have them in red and white. They are very hardy and transplant extremly well. I would love try to make some of the plum jam that Garry was telling us he made. I'm not sure about the sumac drink, I think I will pass. I hope the animal track making was succussful! That looks fun. I am not a big fan of snakes, I hope I don't run into them too often.
I think for me focusing on the concept of an island is good for Kindergarteners. I would start a lesson with the concept of what an island is and build upon it with the features of an island. I would explore the island gently with the children. Letting them play with the sand as we did. Explore the tide pools and the different ocean life that lives within it. Children are facinated with shells, sticks, rocks, and sand. Using those tools to build a sense of place is a great beginning and it is so open ended that chidren can take it to what ever lever they are developmentally ready for.
I think tomorrow is going to be another beautiful day... See you then.
April 10, 2011
The Spencer -Peirce- Little Farm is such a slice of New England history. John Spencer, beginning it all in 1635 when he was granted the 400 acreas to begin a life in this foreign land. Building a successful cattle farm, he also had some land near the landing site in the Parker River.Parker River Water shed Daniel Peirce was the next to own the farm and he was able to make a real go of it . He was involved in blacksmithing, farming and cattle raising as well. Peirce was the one who build the stone house maybe for a status symbol because in England the wealthy had stone houses. Nathaniel Tracy came in next as owner from 1781 to 96. He was the wealthiest merchant in Newburyport. He had a fleet of privateer vessels during the revolution, but suffered bad financial hardships because of it. After his financial collapse he was allowed to stay at the farm until his death. His widow sold the farm to Offin Boardman who worked for Tracy at one time on his ships. Offin was a wildman who ended up in jail in England but escaped twice. He had a wharf on the Newburyport Harbor and he made good money from it. Boardman was the person who added the "wooden wing "to the house. He lost everything in the fire of 1811 and died in 1812. He did make a map of the property which helped the preservationists know exactly what he ate when they dug up the privy. John Pettingell was the next owner but he used it mostly as a summer place. It was leased to Edward Little in 1851. In 1861 he was able to buy the farm outright because he was a smart business man. He also invested in the first banks in Newburyport. His had a very successful dairy farm and he also imported and trained draft horses. The farm stayed in the Little family until 1986 when Amelia Little died . It was deeded to Historic New England and is now the Museum.
Each one of these owners had significant impact in the area. Bringing new settlers to Newbury with the cattle farms, investing in businesses such as banks and boat building along the wharf in town. They also gave jobs to family members and friends. In the cemetery tour everyone seemed to be related somehow. I kept seeing the names Boardman, Pettingell, Currier, Moultan, Lunt, Cushing, Pike, Caldwell. Some of the names I just mentioned had something to do with the Ocean National Bank, William Cushing- president, P.H.Lunt - cashier, directors - William Cushing , Charles Lunt, and John Pike. Moultan was a silversmith, he was located on Merrimac Street along the river. Caldwell's Drug store and Caldwell's rum also located along the river near Cashman's park. All of these businesses depended on the river to bring them their goods. . People along the wharf had to eat so restaurants and bakeries were established. One store we can still see today is Fowels at 11 State Street, established in 1871.
So we have established the Port, but what happened when a boat needed help out in the rough Merrimac River. This is the story of the Dory and Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury, up on the Merrimac. Simeon Lowell invented the flat bottom Dory so it could cut through the waves but it also acted like a surf board and could be ridden to shore.The U.S. Life Saving Service which became the Coast Guard used his boats to rescue people. His company with help from a grandson Hiram in the 19th century made an even better model that the Glousester Schooner fleets used the dory to hand feed their lines for a better catch. Another family member Tinky (Fred) was able to in 1911 produce 2,029 boats in one year. The boats were used in the war to transport food, wounded, and anything else from the shore to a ship. My great uncle, Ned Hines, had a fleet of dories at his store, Tuna Point Lunch ,located at the point on Plum Island in the 1930's. He used them for fishing. Dories were used as rowing boats along the river as well. They worked best when they were loaded to the gills so they would sink down into the water.
The social studies lesson that I would use in my class would be how it all comes together. I would have the children build a river. They could make boats and travel back and forth across the river, and up and down the river as well. The children could have businesses where they bring their goods to people along the river. Let them play and understand how it all comes together so they can develop a "Sense of Place".
Thank you I had a great weekend. I will see you on the 29th.
Final Project
Suzanne Kress-Boat Camp lesson1 Islands.doc Suzanne Kress-Boat Camp lesson2 Tide Pools.doc
Suzanne Kress-Boat Camp lesson 3 shore birds.doc ( Ocean Literacy.pptx presentation)